Exploring mutations: GNAS and CDC73 in jaw fibroosseous lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Benign fibro-osseous lesions have long been an area of diagnostic difficulty due to overlapping of histological and radiological features. Differentiating between these lesions is crucial because of their unique pathogenesis and biological behavior. Ossifying fibroma (OF) and fibrous dysplasia (FD) are the most prevalent lesions. However, not all FD or OF exhibit the typical radiological and histopathological features. In such situations, molecular-level investigations could be essential for precise identification and differentiation. AIM: To evaluate the screening of GNAS and CDC73 mutations in blood and formalin fixed tumor tissues (FFTT) of FD and OF cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six blood samples (three cases of FD and JOF each) and thirteen FFTT (six cases of FD and seven cases of JOF) were included in the study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples using salting out method followed by whole exome sequencing. Multiple efforts were made to extract DNA from tumor tissues using various protocols, but no measurable yield was obtained. RESULTS: DNA derived from blood samples gave successful DNA library preparation and subsequent exome sequencing data generation. We report a pathogenic GNAS mutation (exon8:c.G602A:p.R201H) associated with McCune-Albright syndrome and a novel benign mutation identified in a case of FD (GNAS(NM_000516.7):c.257+687_257+688del) whereas none of the subjects of JOF displayed GNAS and/or CDC73 mutation. CONCLUSION: Study observed mutations in GNAS gene in blood samples from FD cases. However, a limitation is that only DNA extracted from blood underwent successful exome sequencing. Potential reason for low-quality DNA extraction from tissue may be attributed to prior fixation procedures conducted on bone specimens.

Special at-rich sequence-binding protein 2 and its role in healing of the experimental mandible bone tissue defect filling with a synthetic bone graft material and electrical stimulation impact.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The purpose of the study was to identify the role of SATB2 in healing of the experimental mandible bone tissue defect filling with a synthetic bone graft material and electrical stimulation impact. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: An experiment was carried out on 48 mature male rats of the WAG population, which were divided into 4 groups. Each group included 12 experimental animals. Group 1 included rats that were modeled with a perforated defect of the lower jaw body. Group 2 included animals that were modeled with a perforated defect similar to group 1. In animals, a microdevice for electrical action was implanted subcutaneously in the neck area on the side of the simulated bone defect. The negative electrode connected to the negative pole of the battery was in contact with the bone defect. The battery and electrode were insulated with plastic heat shrink material. Group 3 included rats that were modeled with a perforated defect similar to previous groups, the cavity of which was filled with synthetic bone graft "Biomin GT" (RAPID, Ukraine). Group 4 included animals that were modeled with a perforated defect similar to groups 1-3, the cavity of which was filled with synthetic bone graft "Biomin GT" (RAPID, Ukraine). The simulation of electrical stimulation was the same as in group 2. The material for the morphological study was a fragment of the body of the lower jaw from the zone of the perforated defect. Immunohistochemical study was performed using rabbit anti-human SATB2 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Results: In the regenerate filling the defect in the bone tissue of the lower jaw of rats, there was an increase in SATB2 expression under conditions of electrical stimulation; filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material; simultaneous filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material and electrical stimulation. The most pronounced expression of SATB2 was observed under conditions of simultaneous filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material and electrical stimulation; minimally expressed - in conditions of filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material; moderately expressed - under conditions of electrical stimulation. In the regenerate, in cases of all treatment methods, SATB2 was expressed by immune cells, fibroblastic differon cells, osteoblasts, and in case of electrical stimulation, also by adipocytes, vascular pericytes and endothelial cells, epidermis. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The activation of SATB2 expression identified by the authors is one of the mechanisms for stimulating reparative osteogenesis under the conditions of electrical stimulation; filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material; simultaneous filling the defect with a synthetic bone graft material and electrical stimulation.

Deferoxamine Accelerates Mandibular Condylar Neck Fracture Early Bone Healing by Promoting Type H Vessel Proliferation.

BACKGROUND: Condylar fractures (CFs) are a common type of maxillofacial trauma, especially in adolescents. Conservative treatment of CF avoids the possible complications of surgical intervention, but prolongs the patient's suffering because of the requirement for extended intermaxillary fixation. Therefore, the development of a new strategy to accelerate the rate of fracture healing to shorten the period of conservative treatment is of great clinical importance. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of deferoxamine (DFO) in promoting the healing process of CF in adolescent mice. METHODS: Thirty-two 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to four groups: vehicle + sham group, vehicle + CF group, DFO + sham group and DFO + CF group. After constructing the mandibular CF model, mandibular tissue samples were collected respectively at 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Radiographic and histomorphometric analyses were employed to assess bone tissue healing and vascular formation. RESULTS: Deferoxamine was observed to promote the early bone healing of fracture, both radiologically and histomorphometrically. Furthermore, this enhancement of condylar neck fracture healing was attributed to the upregulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signalling pathway while facilitating the formation of type H vessels. In addition, DFO did not produce significant effects on the condylar neck between vehicle + sham and DFO + sham group. CONCLUSION: The application of the HIF-1α inducer DFO can enhance type H vessels expansion thereby accelerating condylar neck fracture healing.

Fractal Dimension and Lacunarity Analysis in the Dentulous and Edentulous Mandibular Posterior Region Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study.

AIMS: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted to assess the differences in the microarchitecture of the trabecular bone of the posterior mandibular region at dentulous and edentulous sites with the help of fractal dimension (FD) and lacunarity using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety CBCT scans were analyzed for the purpose of the present study. Inclusion criteria included subjects with unilaterally missing mandibular molars or premolars and an with intact contralateral opposing tooth. The coronal view of the dentulous and edentulous sites was used, and the region of interest (ROI) was selected 2.6 mm below the apex of the tooth present. These images were then transferred to ImageJ Software, and fractal analysis was done using the box-counting method of the FracLac plug-in. A paired samples t-test was performed to compare the means of FD and lacunarity, and a Kendall correlation was performed to check correlations. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the mean FD of the edentulous side was significantly greater than that of the dentulous side (p-value = 0.011). Additionally, the mean lacunarity of the edentulous side was marginally significantly greater than that of the dentulous side (p-value = 0.089). A significant negative correlation was detected between the FD and lacunarity of the edentulous region (p-value = 0.017), and a marginally significant negative correlation was detected between edentulous lacunarity and dentulous lacunarity (p-value = 0.081). CONCLUSION: The differences in occlusal forces exerted in dentulous and edentulous regions can lead to a change in the trabecular pattern of the bone in these regions. This change in the microarchitecture of bones can be detected by FD and lacunarity, which can further help us assess changes pre- and post-implant. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The advanced technology, the assessment of microarchitecture of the bone has been made easy, using FD and lacunarity, as done in the present study. This analysis can further aid us in both pre- and post-implant analysis to prevent failure of the implant. How to cite this article: Bhoraskar M, Denny C, Srikant N, et al. Fractal Dimension and Lacunarity Analysis in the Dentulous and Edentulous Mandibular Posterior Region Using Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(6):581-587.

Strategies for prevention and treatment of vascular and nerve injury in mandibular anterior implant surgery. / 下颌前牙区种植术的血管神经损伤防治策略.

Important anatomical structures such as mandibular incisive canal, tongue foramen, and mouth floor vessels may be damaged during implant surgery in the mandibular anterior region, which may lead to mouth floor hematoma, asphyxia, pain, paesthesia and other symptoms. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. The insufficient alveolar bone space and the anatomical variation of blood vessels and nerves in the mandibular anterior region increase the risk of blood vessels and nerves injury during implant surgery. In case of vascular injury, airway control and hemostasis should be performed, and in case of nerve injury, implant removal and early medical treatment should be performed. In order to avoid vascular and nerve injury during implant surgery in the mandibular anterior region, it is necessary to be familiar with the anatomical structure, take cone-beam computed tomography and design properly before surgery, and use digital technology during surgery to achieve accurate implant placement. This article summarizes the anatomical structure of the mandibular anterior teeth region, discusses the prevention strategies of vascular and nerve injuries in the mandibular anterior teeth region, and discusses the treatment methods after the occurrence of vascular and nerve injuries, so as to provide clinical reference.

Comparative Evaluation of LED Light Application and Heat Generation with Three Different Wavelengths of Frequency on Soft Tissues in Bringing Faster Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A Finite Element Model Study.

Background: The duration of orthodontic treatment is often a significant deterrent for patients when considering conventional mechanics, which can be time-consuming. Photobiomodulation (PBM) utilizes visible red to near-infrared wavelengths of light frequencies to expedite orthodontic treatment time. Objective: To investigate the effect of three Light Emitting Diode (LED) frequencies and their heat generation on soft tissues in accelerating tooth movement through Finite Element Method (FEM) study. Material and Methods: In this FEM study, a three-dimensional FEM model of the skull of a male patient with mild to moderate crowding in the maxilla, and mandible. The dentitions were scanned using a Computed Tomography (CT). A static force of 70 gm on the anterior region of the maxilla and mandible was applied from the labial sides, and a second static analysis was carried out by using both a 70 gm of force and thermal load with three different frequencies of 740, 850, and 940 nm on the 1st and 3rd quadrants. The effect of LED application and heat generation was assessed on soft tissues in bringing faster orthodontic tooth movement. Results: Increased tooth movement with combined loading case in the 1st and 3rd quadrants when compared with the 2nd and 4th quadrants. The temperature distribution was higher at 940 nm followed by 740 & 850 nm of frequency. Conclusion: Faster movements were observed in the combined loading case in the 1st and 3rd quadrants compared to static loading in other quadrants. Heat generation was higher with 940 nm frequency followed by 740 and 850 nm.

Evaluating Surgical Accuracy in Bimaxillary Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mandible-First versus Maxilla-First Approaches.

BACKGROUND: Mandible-first surgery (MdFS) has gained attention as an alternative to the traditional maxilla-first surgery (MxFS) in bimaxillary procedures. Given the distinct sequence of operations between these approaches, evaluating the clinical advantages of MdFS compared to MxFS is crucial for optimizing surgical decision-making. This systematic review and meta-analysis examine intraoperative achievability and postoperative stability between these two surgical approaches. METHODS: A thorough literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE, covering articles published from 2013 to 2023. Studies included were retrospective, prospective, and randomized trials that compared the accuracy and/or stability of MdFS with MxFS. The primary endpoint for the meta-analysis was the standardized mean difference in surgical accuracy for translational movements, with a secondary focus on rotational accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies encompassing 712 patients met the inclusion criteria. The analysis suggested that MdFS might reduce accuracy in the sagittal dimension (CI, 0.05 to 0.74) but offered greater achievability in the vertical direction (CI, - 0.47 to - 0.07). Additionally, MdFS was associated with a relatively posterior (CI, - 1.18 to - 0.60) and inferior (CI, - 0.64 to - 0.07) positioning of the maxillomandibular complex. CONCLUSION: Despite certain limitations, our findings indicate that MdFS can achieve clinical outcomes similar to MxFS in terms of both accuracy and stability. However, further researches with larger sample sizes and more rigorous study designs are necessary to validate these conclusions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Chronic Osteomyelitis Following Foreign Body Entrapment in Pediatric Mandible-a Case Reprt.

Chronic osteomyelitis resulting from foreign body entrapment in the pediatric mandible presents unique challenges in diagnosis and management. Habitual insertion of objects into the oral cavity by children can lead to serious complications such as discharging sinuses and osteomyelitis. We present a case of a 12-year-old boy with extra-oral pus discharge originating from the mandible, ultimately traced to an embedded iron nail adjacent to a carious first molar. Radiographic imaging played a crucial role in diagnosis, revealing the foreign object and. Long-term follow-up showed successful healing with prompt treatment. Prevention through parent education, meticulous examination, and interdisciplinary collaboration are emphasized to avoid such complications.

Bilateral Primordial Odontogenic Tumour of Mandible: A Rare Case Report.

Primordial odontogenic tumour is a recently categorised rare benign mixed epithelial and mesenchymal odontogenic tumour which occurs most frequently in first two decades of life. It is composed of cellular myxoid connective tissue lined by cuboidal to columnar odontogenic epithelium resembling inner enamel epithelium in early stages of tooth development. Here, we are presenting a unique case of bilateral primordial odontogenic tumour of mandible in a paediatric patient. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12663-023-02075-3.

Anatomical and Computed Tomography Study of the Mandible of the Patagonian Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus): Ecological and Clinical Insights.

Given the high prevalence of skeletal and mandibular diseases in the Patagonian Huemul, comprehensive anatomical studies are essential to understand the impact of nutritional deficiencies and support conservation efforts. The aim of this study is to provide a detailed anatomical characterisation of three exhumed mandibles of Patagonian huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) through three-dimensional reconstructions obtained from computed tomography data and semi-automatic segmentation, documenting their distinctive features. The findings revealed distinctive features in the mandible, consistent with the browsing habits of herbivores, such as a robust coronoid process, a wide and deep pterygoid fossa, a significantly lower mandibular condyle compared to other deer species and a unique configuration of the mandibular canal with a curved caudal portion and a straight rostral portion. These anatomical adaptations are likely related to the species' feeding habits and behaviour. The study also addressed the challenges of researching an endangered species, given that access to biological material is restricted by strict regulations in Chile and Argentina. These restrictions limited the available sample size and hindered the acquisition of additional specimens, which could affect the generalisation of the results. Despite these limitations, the research provides valuable anatomical insights that are fundamental for the biology, clinical practice and management of specimens. In conclusion, the mandibles of both juvenile and adult Patagonian huemul demonstrate distinctive features characteristic of browsing herbivores. The findings can serve as a basis for future comparative studies on mandibular anatomy and function in this endangered deer species as well as in other herbivorous deer.

Mandibular Implant-Supported Overdentures Using Telescopic Crowns and Immediate Loading Protocol: A 2-Year Prospective Follow-up Study.

PURPOSE: Implant-supported overdentures have been an effective treatment method for edentulous mandibles. However, the loading time after implant placement is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of implant-supported overdentures using telescopic crowns for the treatment of edentulous patients with immediate loading protocol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 22 edentulous mandibular patients visiting the Department of High Technique, National Hospital of Odonto - Stomatology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for prosthodontic rehabilitation. Each patient received four interforaminal implants. Immediate loading protocol was applied, and Ankylos Syncone copings systems was used to connect the prosthesis and the implants. The survival rate of implants and prostheses, as the primary outcome, were evaluated at 6 months, 01 year, and 02 years post-surgery. Peri-implant tissue condition, peri-implant bone loss, and patient satisfaction were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The implant survival rate was 98.9% with 01 failed implant. The peri-implant bone loss changes after 6 months, 01 year, and 02 years were 0.07 ± 0.22 mm, 0.12 ± 0.3 mm, and 0.15 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. No gingival hyperplasia was recorded. The prosthesis survival rate was 86.4% with 1 fractured overdenture, 1 overdenture relining and 1 abutment fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular rehabilitation using implant-supported overdenture with telescopic crowns and immediate loading protocol showed high survival rates of both implant and prosthesis in 2-year follow-up.

Distraction osteogenesis application in bone defect caused by osteomyelitis following mandibular fracture surgery: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Osteomyelitis secondary to mandibular fracture surgery is rare and complete surgical debridement of necrotic infected tissues is an optimal treatment for it. Subsequent reconstruction is required for bone defect caused by operation. Autogenous, allograft and synthetic bone graft substitutes have become widespread in bone defect treatment. Distraction osteogenesis (DO) was also applied in bone defect reconstruction, even it wasn't conventional therapy in jaw. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a case of a 40-year-old aged man who presented with chronic swelling and pain on the right mandibular masseteric region after mandibular angle and Le Fort II fracture surgery. In six weeks after surgery, CBCT images showed that the fracture ends hadn't heal and the fracture gap had widened significantly. The clinical diagnosis of the patient was right mandibular angle osteomyelitis. After controlling the symptoms of pain and infection with local rinses and systemic antibiotic therapy, the patient underwent segmental resection of the infected bone and DO reconstruction for bone defect simultaneously. Encouragingly, well bone healing and normal occlusion restoration was observed finally. CONCLUSIONS: DO could be a valuable alternative therapy to bone grafts for bone defect, even in the case of infection.

Comparisons of the Clinical Outcomes of Mandible Contouring Surgery With or Without the Use of Intraoral Drains.

BACKGROUND: Mandible contouring surgery is a common cosmetic procedure aimed at reducing the width of the lower face or correcting chin-related issues by contouring the mandible. Typically, an intraoral drain is placed during procedures involving the reduction of the mandible angle portion to mitigate seroma or hematoma formation. Despite this standard practice, anecdotal evidence suggests that the omission of drains does not significantly impact complication rates or surgical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and complication rates between patients who received intraoral drains (n = 338) and those who did not (n = 132) during mandible contouring surgery. The primary outcomes measured included the incidence of seroma, hematoma, and infection by counting the number of post-operative interventions required to address these complications. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The incidence of post-operative surgical interventions for bleeding control or hematoma evacuation in the drain group was 0.59% compared to 0% in the no-drain group (p = 0.922). Minimally invasive interventions were required in 2.37% of patients with drains and 3.03% without drains (p = 0.933). Infection rates were 1.18% in the drain group versus 0.76% in the no-drain group (p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates no statistically significant difference in complication rates between mandible contouring surgeries performed with or without intraoral drains. These findings suggest that the routine use of drains may be unnecessary, potentially simplifying post-operative care and reducing patient discomfort. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A cephalometric analysis of the antegonial notch in relation to the direction of mandibular growth.

Masticatory muscle forces influence craniofacial morphology development. The antegonial notch (Notch) is a bony concavity on the inferior border of the mandible. Considering the Notch is located anteriorly to the insertion of the masseter muscle and varies among individuals, we hypothesised that these muscles influence the formation of the Notch. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between mandible morphology and Notch formation. Sixty Japanese patients who visited the Department of Orthodontics at our university hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Morphological and morphometric analyses of the Notch and related craniofacial parameters were conducted using lateral cephalograms taken at the patients' initial visits. Standard values for the Notch area and depth were determined, and the morphology of the Notch and mandible was analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (p < 0.05). The mean Notch area and depth was 78.71 ± 36.54 mm2 and 3.11 ± 1.09 mm, respectively. The Notch area was significantly correlated with ramus inclination (p = 0.044, r = 0.261) and with the Y-axis (p = 0.039, r = 0.267). This study indicated that both the masticatory muscles and mandibular growth could contribute to the Notch formation.

Classification of mandibular molar furcation involvement in periapical radiographs by deep learning.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to classify mandibular molar furcation involvement (FI) in periapical radiographs using a deep learning algorithm. Materials and Methods: Full mouth series taken at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine from 2011-2023 were screened. Diagnostic-quality mandibular premolar and molar periapical radiographs with healthy or FI mandibular molars were included. The radiographs were cropped into individual molar images, annotated as " healthy" or " FI," and divided into training, validation, and testing datasets. The images were preprocessed by PyTorch transformations. ResNet-18, a convolutional neural network model, was refined using the PyTorch deep learning framework for the specific imaging classification task. CrossEntropyLoss and the AdamW optimizer were employed for loss function training and optimizing the learning rate, respectively. The images were loaded by PyTorch DataLoader for efficiency. The performance of ResNet-18 algorithm was evaluated with multiple metrics, including training and validation losses, confusion matrix, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under the ROC curve. Results: After adequate training, ResNet-18 classified healthy vs. FI molars in the testing set with an accuracy of 96.47%, indicating its suitability for image classification. Conclusion: The deep learning algorithm developed in this study was shown to be promising for classifying mandibular molar FI. It could serve as a valuable supplemental tool for detecting and managing periodontal diseases.

Changes of functional units in type IIA craniofacial microsomia before puberty-a preliminary computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: The natural growth of the mandible in craniofacial microsomia (CFM) remains a topic of considerable debate. This study aims to characterize the mandibular architecture and its natural growth in children with type IIA CFM using functional unit analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 sets CT data of 8 unoperated children with unilateral IIA CFM with an interval ranging from 2 to 6 years (3.4±1.5 years,AVR±SD)were collected. The baseline skeletal units' discrepancy in size, annual growth, and angular measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: The condylar, coronoid, and body units were smaller (reaching 63%, 79%, and 90% of the unaffected side, respectively) while the angular unit was larger on the affected side. The condylar unit on the affected side grew slower than the unaffected side, at about 60% of its rate, and other units showed no statistically significant bilateral differences. The backward rotation angle of the affected body unit (BUA) increased from T1 to T2. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that the condyle unit is the center of mandible deformity in type IIA CFM and exhibits insufficient growth relative to the unaffected side . Meanwhile, the hemi-mandible on the affected side rotated posteriorly during growth, thus worsening spatial relation. Future studies with larger sample sizes that incorporate clinical assessments are needed to elucidate the progression of CFM.

A Fortuitous Finding of Asymptomatic Compound Odontoma Consisting of 156 Denticles on a Routine Radiographic Examination: A Case Report.

Odontomas are the most common odontogenic tumors and are classified into compound and complex types. They result from a combination of odontogenic epithelium and ectomesenchyme. Complex odontomas frequently occur in the posterior mandible, whereas compound odontomas are more commonly found in the anterior region of the maxilla. Due to their small size and asymptomatic nature, odontomas are often diagnosed incidentally. Typically, odontomas are <3 cm in diameter; those exceeding this size are classified as giant odontomas and may present with extraoral swelling. This case report documents an unusual instance of a giant compound odontoma, containing 156 denticles, in a 15-year-old girl. Despite the odontoma's large size in the mandibular anterior region-an uncommon site for compound odontomas-the patient was completely asymptomatic and presented with only intermittent pain in the lower right back tooth region over the past month. The denticles were extracted, and intentional root canal treatment was performed on teeth 41, 42, 31, and 32 under general anesthesia. How to cite this article: Chiranjeevi S, Prabhuraj SN. A Fortuitous Finding of Asymptomatic Compound Odontoma Consisting of 156 Denticles on a Routine Radiographic Examination: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(6):723-727.

Predicting Mandibular Growth Potential Based on Cervical Vertebral Bone Age Using Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs in a Sample of the Saudi Population.

BACKGROUND: This study estimated the predictive accuracy of the mandibular growth potential based on cervical vertebral bone age using digital lateral cephalograms in a sample of the Saudi population. METHODS: This study included digital lateral cephalograms of eighty subjects aged 10-21 years divided into adult and young groups. Cervical vertebral age was calculated by tracing and measuring the third and fourth cervical vertebrae on lateral cephalograms, and the mandibular growth potential was estimated using the Mito et al. regression equation. The accuracy of the calculated CVB age was verified via comparison with the chronological age. The data analyses included independent sample t-tests for testing the differences in mean values and Pearson correlation coefficients to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS: A significant difference was noted between the mean cervical vertebral age and chronological age in the young group for both males (p = 0.0003) and females (p = 0.033). The correlation coefficient between cervical vertebral age and chronological age in the young male group was higher (r = 0.934) than that in the young females (r = 0.254). CONCLUSIONS: The mandibular growth potential prediction based on CVB age using the regression equation of Mito et al. was applicable only to the young Saudi males. Further studies are needed to develop new multiple regression models to obtain cervical vertebral age more accurately for both genders in the Saudi population.

Osteoblastoma of the Mandible: A Case Report.

Osteoblastoma is a rare, benign bone tumor primarily affecting the spine but can occasionally involve the jaws, particularly the mandible. This report discusses the case of a 38-year-old female patient presenting with mild pain and swelling in the left mandibular region for the past few months. Clinical, radiographic, and histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of osteoblastoma. A conservative surgical excision was performed. No recurrence was observed on follow-up. Differential diagnoses included low-grade osteosarcoma, osteoid osteoma, and other bone-forming lesions. This case report emphasizes the importance of distinguishing osteoblastoma from similar lesions to ensure appropriate treatment and favorable prognosis.

Clinical, CBCT and Histological Analysis of a Florid Cemento-Osseous Dysplasia with Co-Occurrence of Simple Bone Cyst in the Mandible: A Case Report.

Cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) is classified, by the World Health Organization as a benign fibro-osseous lesion related to the tooth and periapical area of the jaws and is considered as a benign reactive process appearing from the apical periodontium in close relation with the apices of teeth. Usually, it is asymptomatic, discovered accidentally, and affecting particularly middle-aged African women. There are four subtypes distinguished of the lesion: periapical (PCOD), focal (FCOD), florid (FLCOD) and familial florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (FFLCOD). Pseudocysts found in the jaws go by various names, including solitary bone cyst, traumatic bone cyst, or simple bone cyst (SBC). These two pathologies have been reported separately; however, their co-occurrence remains rare and the first case of FLCOD with co-occurrence of SBC was reported by Melrose et al. in 1976 and later a few cases been reported in the literature. The aim of this report is to describe a case of a 46-year-old oriental female diagnosed with FLCOD with co-occurrence of SBC. Under local analgesia, a surgical exploration of the cyst was performed. In addition, a biopsy with a trephine was done in the region of missing right first mandibular molar. Based on the patient clinical, radiographic, and histological findings, a diagnosis of FLCOD was made in co-occurrence with a mandibular SBC. An examination of another female family member unveils a distinctive case, and the familial factor has been ruled out. No further treatment was planned and only follow-up was suggested.